Method and arrangement for utilizing solar energy, method and system for implementing and designing an arrangement for utilizing solar energy and computer program product

Abstract

Prior art solar energy arrangements are typically structurally complex, have a limited concentration factor and temperature, and their dimensions are large. There is provided a solar energy arrangement and corresponding method for utilizing solar energy by directing sunrays or sunbeams with at least one solar concentrator towards at least one application, device or equipment utilizing solar energy, and a corresponding method, system and computer program product for implementing an arrangement for utilizing solar energy.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An arrangement for utilizing solar energy, the arrangement comprising:
 at least one solar concentrator; and at least one application, device or equipment utilizing solar energy, the at least one solar concentrator comprising: 
 a body frame; and 
 a plurality of reflectors arranged in rows supported by the body frame, 
 wherein each reflector in a row is at a different angle towards the application, device or equipment utilizing solar energy, 
 wherein the solar concentrator is arranged to direct sunrays or sunbeams towards the application, device or equipment utilizing solar energy, and 
 wherein the body frame and the reflectors are rotatable each on a single axis that are arranged with respect to each other perpendicularly, and the rows are respectively coupled to the body frame in such a manner that rotation points for the coupling with respect to a rotation point of each row are parallel so as to enable rotation of one row alone and rotation of the one row together with other rows of the arrangement. 
 
     
     
       2. The arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the rows are rotatable to direct sunrays or sunbeams towards the application, device or equipment utilizing solar energy, and wherein the application, device or equipment is fixed relative to the ground. 
     
     
       3. The arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the rows are rotatable to direct sunrays or sunbeams towards the application, device or equipment utilizing solar energy, and wherein the application, device or equipment is movable for increasing the concentration factor of the application, device or equipment utilizing solar energy. 
     
     
       4. The arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the reflectors are curved with two dimensional, 2D, or three dimensional, 3D, curvature for directing sunrays or sunbeams to the application, device or equipment utilizing solar energy. 
     
     
       5. The arrangement according to  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of overlapping solar devices, each solar device comprising:
 a body frame; and 
 a plurality of reflectors arranged in rows supported by the body frame, 
 wherein each reflector in a row is at a different angle towards the application, device or equipment utilizing solar energy. 
 
     
     
       6. The arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the arrangement comprises at least one or more absorbers for receiving the sunrays reflected from reflectors. 
     
     
       7. The arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the arrangement comprises an absorber for receiving the sunrays reflected from reflectors. 
     
     
       8. The arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the reflectors in a row are supported by a single piece of material extending through the length of the row, or reflectors in a row are supported by a plurality of sheets of material separated by a distance such that the reflectors are supported by the sheets at specific positions on the reflectors. 
     
     
       9. The arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the reflectors in a row are supported by a plurality of sheets of material separated by a distance, said sheets being interconnected with each other, and the rows of reflectors are interconnected by a connector part that is arranged to engage at least one sheet in each row at connection points on the sheets, wherein the connection points are arranged on the sheets such that the rows are at different angles relative to each other for directing sunrays or sunbeams towards the application, device or equipment utilizing solar energy. 
     
     
       10. The arrangement according to  claim 1 , comprising reflectors, wherein the reflectors in a row are supported by a single piece of material extending through the length of the row, or reflectors in a row are supported by a plurality of sheets of material separated by a distance such that the reflectors are supported by the sheets at specific positions on the reflectors, wherein the reflectors are fixed on top of at least two sheets. 
     
     
       11. The arrangement according to  claim 1 , comprising reflectors, wherein the reflectors in a row are supported by a single piece of material extending through the length of the row, or reflectors in a row are supported by a plurality of sheets of material separated by a distance such that the reflectors are supported by the sheets at specific positions on the reflectors, wherein the sheets have slits and the reflectors are inserted through slits of at least two parallel sheets. 
     
     
       12. The arrangement according to  claim 9 , wherein the connector part provides rotation of the row alone and rotation of the row together with other rows of the arrangement. 
     
     
       13. A system for implementing an arrangement for utilizing solar energy, the arrangement comprising:
 at least one application, device or equipment utilizing solar energy; 
 at least one solar concentrator arranged to direct sunrays or sunbeams towards the application, device or equipment utilizing solar energy; and 
 means for determining at least one parameter relating to a construction or operation of the solar concentrator and/or at least one parameter relating to a construction or operation of the application, device, or equipment utilizing solar energy, 
 wherein the at least one solar concentrator comprises: 
 a body frame; and 
 a plurality of reflectors arranged in rows supported by the body frame; 
 wherein each reflector in a row is at a different angle towards the application, device or equipment utilizing solar energy, and 
 wherein the body frame and the reflectors are rotatable each on a single axis that are arranged with respect to each other perpendicularly, and the rows are respectively coupled to the body frame in such a manner that rotation points for the coupling with respect to a rotation point of each row are parallel so as to enable rotation of one row alone and rotation of the one row together with other rows of the arrangement. 
 
     
     
       14. The system according to  claim 13 , wherein the system comprises an intelligent electronic device including a processor and a memory, said electronic device and the memory being operatively coupled to execute a method, comprising at least one of: tracking a solar device, minimizing geometric aberration, reducing obstruction or shadowing for adjacent reflectors on a row, increasing concentration factor by curving individual reflectors on solar device, simulating power output, removing inefficient reflectors, optimizing simple absorber surface area, minimizing geometric aberration by linear variation of absorber position, increasing land-use by overlapping devices, increasing land-use efficiency by placing multiple concentrator systems on single base frame, optimizing a secondary optic, optimizing row positioning, dynamically covering net-loss absorber surfaces, reducing aberration by dynamic frame rotation.